THE ART OF SATISFACTION

Satisfaction is a term we often associate with our sense of achievement, rather than our everyday emotions. Our human instinct, particularly in the modern world of social media and constantly comparing ourselves to others, tends to focus on the ‘big stuff’ bringing us joy and happiness - things like getting a promotion, going on an expensive holiday, owning a house, buying a car and so on. BUT it is finding joy in the small stuff, the mundane things, that can truly create long lasting satisfaction in our lives.

As the saying goes, money can’t buy happiness. In the Origins of Happiness study, led by Lord Richard Layard and carried out by the London School of Economics, their research showed that on a scale of one to 10, the doubling of someone's pay saw their happiness rise by less than 0.2. Their findings indicated that actually, our source of happiness comes from positive relationships, acts of kindness towards others and practising mindfulness.

Here’s the ROOTED guide to the art of satisfaction….

Maxin relaxin. Life continually becomes more and more fast paced with ever-increasing ways to multitask, maximise our productivity and the general mood in our society that getting as much done as possible and being ‘busy’ is something to be proud of. But if we can’t relax and enjoy quality periods of rest and reflection, eventually this manifests in either our physical or mental health, and we risk burnout or serious illness. We need to find stillness in order to enjoy the ride of life. Meditation is a great way to do this, but any activity that brings you a sense of calm and allows your body and mind to recharge fits the bill. Perhaps it is reading a book outdoors, or watching re-runs of a trashy TV show that enables you to unwind. Whatever it is, make space for that in your routine and treat this time with the same importance as brushing your teeth or taking a shower.

Say yes to things that scare you. Trying something new gets you out of your comfort zone which in turn, gives you a new take on experiences and increases your confidence. You may learn something new, or meet someone that inspired you. Afterwards, the feeling of pride surpasses any initial fear, and we experience a sensation of adrenalin pumping through us. This also allows us to let go. No matter how small, overcoming an obstacle of some sort then leads to facing more of our fears. Try it out! Talk to someone new, go to an event alone, or do an activity you’ve always wanted to but have never been brave enough to go ahead with.

Eat intuitively. Say no to the food police. As I’m sure you know, ROOTED is all about eating and living intuitively. There is no space for guilt nor shame and there is no place for faddy diets or eliminating entire food groups from our diet. Sometimes we find ourselves eating to feed our emotions, not our hunger. Find out more about intuitive eating in our 10 week course here.

Stay present. Our brains are wired to pick up on the negativity in a situation over the positive elements. This is part of our internal structure and is not something that is easy to overcome. But we can train ourselves to stay in the moment and try to find the positive. By dwelling on the inconvenience or negative impact something has or is causing us, this fuels our unhappiness. Start with the small things and try to see a positive in something you immediately feel inconvenienced or angered by. It’s easy to get frustrated when completing mundane tasks. But these mundane tasks are part of our lives, so let’s embrace them! Make a joke about picking up your partner's pants off the bedroom floor everyday, or waiting in a long queue at the post office. If you can find satisfaction in that, you can find it in anything!

Have sex. It’s literally the most natural thing in the world. Not only does it gets your heart pumping (particularly in the seconds leading up to orgasm) but it also builds connection and affection with another human being. It also makes us healthier, or at least FEEL healthier - a study of 3,000 people aged 57-85 showed that those who were having sex rated their general health higher than those who weren't. (Source: NHS website). Like dancing and yoga (also great ways to make your body and mind feel good!) sex is rhythmic, which can heighten and enhance our senses. Get naked, and let go!

Practice gratitude. There have been countless studies indicating that we can increase our own happiness through manifesting gratitude. Try giving a sincere thank you to someone you encounter in your day. Create a gratitude journal. In a study conducted by Professor Nancy Digdon, published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, writing in a gratitude journal for 15 minutes every evening helped participants worry less at bedtime and have a longer, better quality sleep afterwards. Use your own notebook or treat yourself to this gorgeous one from our friends at Patternity. Or as part of your gratitude practice, give one as a gift to someone you are sincerely thankful for.

Learn to love yourself. This is the root of our satisfaction. Try writing a love letter to YOU and posting it back to yourself. Give yourself adequate sleep, food, relaxation time and all the things you need to be happy and satisfied. You are your own Number One when it comes to practising love and respect. Touch yourself. Enjoy yourself. Love yourself.